Ephesians 2:5 "even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved)"
How the Gospel addresses man's three-fold dilemma
In the Gospel I find that when I am born into this world, there are three sets of issues that are all interrelated and of which I cannot solve on my own: I'm spiritually dead to God, I'm legally guilty before God and I'm relationally alienated from God. What the Gospel tells me is that upon the heels of the Spirit's work in my heart through saving faith, the glorious Gospel delivers the following Goodnews:
Man's Spiritual Deadness - Solved by Regeneration
The first issue of man's spiritual deadness is the most damaging of the three - since man is utterly dead in his tresspasses and sins. For the past several days we have been looking at the truth of the New Birth, and how man must be born again. In the doctrine of the New Birth, God addresses my spiritual deadness by bringing to me resurrection life. Mankind is not merely a sick patient in a hospital needing an injection of moral improvement, nor is he merely an ignorant man in need of enlightenment, rather man is a corpse in need of a resurrection. Jesus states in John 5:24-25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me,
has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death
into life. 25“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming
and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who
hear will live.
Regeneration, or the New Birth, comes from God, brings with it the necessary change of heart and includes faith and repentance. We can view salvation from three angles, one of which is this supernatural angle - whereby a man or woman dead in their trespasses and sins is raised from darkness to light, from death unto life. This first problem is solved. But notice also another problem that is simultaneously solved all at once by the Gospel.
Man's legal guilt - solved by Justification
Man upon receiving the New Birth by grace through faith is declared legally right with God by what the Bible terms "justification". Romans 1-3 spells out in detail all of the legal problems sinful man has before Holy God. In three Divine courtrooms man is guilty in the eyes of God. The first courtroom is that of creation - wherein mankind's guilt is declared universally in creation. (Romans 1:18-31) Then in the courtroom of the conscience, man knows deep down inside what his heart confirms - that he is not right before God, and that no amount of right living will make him clean. (Romans 2) Then the courtroom of God's law makes the final declaration - man is a lawbreaker, worthy of death. Romans 3)
To compound things further, man had inherited the guilt and condemnation of Adam's Sin, which came as a result of the Fall. (Romans 5). What is man to do? There is nothing he can do. But thanks be to God what man could not do, One Perfect man did - Christ. He alone lived the perfect life demanded by creation, the conscience and God's law. Furthermore, Christ died the death also demanded by all three. As a result, when you and I by faith trust in what Christ accomplished, God credits us with His life and death - as if we lived perfectly and paid the price of justice.
Romans 4:25-5:1 states - "He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised
because of our justification. 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ."
So what the Gospel does is tell us that by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, my spiritual deadness to God is solved by regeneration and my legal guilty before God is solved by justification. But what about my relational alienation from God?
Man's Relational Alienation - solved by adoption
Ephesians 2:12 states - remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no
hope and without God in the world. Outside of saving faith in Jesus Christ, the profound alienation from God cannot be bridged. What the scripture teaches is that in the grace of adoption, the formerly dead, guilty and alienated sinner is by grace through faith made alive, declared innocent and deemed a son.
Romans 8:16-17 states - "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and
fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may
also be glorified with Him. " Galatians 4:7 "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;
and if a son, then an heir through God. "
Thus the Gospel is truly Good news. In it, by grace through faith, I'm raised from death to life in regeneration, transferred from guilt to innocence in justification and termed a son by way of adoption. Three issues gloriously solved by One Grand Message -the Gospel, which credits it all to One Grand Person - Jesus Christ.
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Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
The New Birth predicted in the Old Testament
Ezekiel 36:26-27 26“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a
new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and
give you a heart of flesh. 27“I will
put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be
careful to observe My ordinances.
Even though the New Birth reality would not be in full function until after the Holy Spirit came in Acts 2, the prediction of it came centuries before the New Testament. As we saw yesterday, The Holy Spirit was already doing a work in human hearts, a proto-type to the New Birth called "circumcision of the Heart". In seeing His work in the Old Testament, the time would be inaugurated for a new, deeper and more abiding work. When we arrive in our Old Testaments to the prophets, prophets such as Ezekiel and Jeremiah are the primary prophets we look to when grasping what would be the greater work of the New Birth.
The functions and limits of the Old Covenant
Israel as a nation had failed in her covenant obligations to God that He had outlined for them in Exodus 19-20. Though God had given His promises to His people through the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants, it was in the Mosaic Covenant of Exodus 19-20 that God outlined their redemptive identity. The Mosaic Covenant or Sinaitic Covenant (so-called because it was made by God with His people at Mount Sinai), spelled out the type of righteousness God desired and expected if anyone is to have any relationship with Him. This covenant that God made demanded righteousness, but could not deliver it. God knew that the people of Israel would try to get to Him apart from grace, and so He gave the law to show them their inability to do so.
The Covenant of Sinai, also called "The Old Covenant", awaited the day God would reveal a "New Covenant" to His people. Since the people of Israel came to be identified with Moses and the "Old Covenant", the entire age leading up to the cross is called the "Old Covenant" or "Old Testament Age". A " New Covenant" was needed. Hebrews 8:7 "For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second."
The glorious revelation of the New Covenant
When God began to reveal His New Covenant promises to Israel in passages like Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:25-27, He was originally pointing to a completely future time, the final age in which Christ would reign on earth - the Millennial age. Israel the nation was promised by God to be restored at Messiah's second coming. The people as a nation would look upon the One whom they had pierced and be saved. (Zechariah 12:10) What the New Covenant promises were designed for was to give hope to a nation that had been sent to exile in Babylon for 70 years. They would become not only a nation once again, but would end up fulfilling the destiny which they forfeited.
That time for Israel will come, and the New Covenant Promises do ultimately speak to them. However from what we gather in the New Covenant scriptures (another name for the New Testament), this New Covenant has been spiritually inaugurated in the life of the Church. When you read passages such as 2 Corinthians 3-5 and Hebrews 8-9, you discover that the "Age to Come" is overlapping with this current church age. We as Christians, by way of the New Birth, are partaking spiritually of the promises communicated in Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
How the New Covenant exceeds the Old Covenant
When we turn to passages such as Hebrews 8:7-13, we discover just how wonderful our salvation is in light of the fact that we are spiritual partakers of the New Covenant. Let the reader take note:
Old Covenant vs New Covenant
Hebrews 8:10 Hebrews 8:10
-Demands godliness -Delivers godliness
-Principles for holy living -power for holy living
-God was unapproachable -God is approachable
Hebrews 8:11 Hebrews 8:11
-I know about God -I come to know God
Hebrews 8:12 Hebrews 8:12
-sin is shown as sin -sin is forgiven
Hebrews 8:13 Hebrews 8:13
-change is not available -change is expected
As you can see, by gaining an understanding of the New Covenant versus Old Covenant systems, we can better appreciate the background leading up to the work of the New Birth. I hope this brief summary today has shed light and edified your heart dear reader.
Even though the New Birth reality would not be in full function until after the Holy Spirit came in Acts 2, the prediction of it came centuries before the New Testament. As we saw yesterday, The Holy Spirit was already doing a work in human hearts, a proto-type to the New Birth called "circumcision of the Heart". In seeing His work in the Old Testament, the time would be inaugurated for a new, deeper and more abiding work. When we arrive in our Old Testaments to the prophets, prophets such as Ezekiel and Jeremiah are the primary prophets we look to when grasping what would be the greater work of the New Birth.
The functions and limits of the Old Covenant
Israel as a nation had failed in her covenant obligations to God that He had outlined for them in Exodus 19-20. Though God had given His promises to His people through the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants, it was in the Mosaic Covenant of Exodus 19-20 that God outlined their redemptive identity. The Mosaic Covenant or Sinaitic Covenant (so-called because it was made by God with His people at Mount Sinai), spelled out the type of righteousness God desired and expected if anyone is to have any relationship with Him. This covenant that God made demanded righteousness, but could not deliver it. God knew that the people of Israel would try to get to Him apart from grace, and so He gave the law to show them their inability to do so.
The Covenant of Sinai, also called "The Old Covenant", awaited the day God would reveal a "New Covenant" to His people. Since the people of Israel came to be identified with Moses and the "Old Covenant", the entire age leading up to the cross is called the "Old Covenant" or "Old Testament Age". A " New Covenant" was needed. Hebrews 8:7 "For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second."
The glorious revelation of the New Covenant
When God began to reveal His New Covenant promises to Israel in passages like Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:25-27, He was originally pointing to a completely future time, the final age in which Christ would reign on earth - the Millennial age. Israel the nation was promised by God to be restored at Messiah's second coming. The people as a nation would look upon the One whom they had pierced and be saved. (Zechariah 12:10) What the New Covenant promises were designed for was to give hope to a nation that had been sent to exile in Babylon for 70 years. They would become not only a nation once again, but would end up fulfilling the destiny which they forfeited.
That time for Israel will come, and the New Covenant Promises do ultimately speak to them. However from what we gather in the New Covenant scriptures (another name for the New Testament), this New Covenant has been spiritually inaugurated in the life of the Church. When you read passages such as 2 Corinthians 3-5 and Hebrews 8-9, you discover that the "Age to Come" is overlapping with this current church age. We as Christians, by way of the New Birth, are partaking spiritually of the promises communicated in Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
How the New Covenant exceeds the Old Covenant
When we turn to passages such as Hebrews 8:7-13, we discover just how wonderful our salvation is in light of the fact that we are spiritual partakers of the New Covenant. Let the reader take note:
Old Covenant vs New Covenant
Hebrews 8:10 Hebrews 8:10
-Demands godliness -Delivers godliness
-Principles for holy living -power for holy living
-God was unapproachable -God is approachable
Hebrews 8:11 Hebrews 8:11
-I know about God -I come to know God
Hebrews 8:12 Hebrews 8:12
-sin is shown as sin -sin is forgiven
Hebrews 8:13 Hebrews 8:13
-change is not available -change is expected
As you can see, by gaining an understanding of the New Covenant versus Old Covenant systems, we can better appreciate the background leading up to the work of the New Birth. I hope this brief summary today has shed light and edified your heart dear reader.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Comparing Old and New Testament Salvation
Deuteronomy 30:6 “Moreover the LORD
your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love
the LORD your God with all your heart and with all
your soul, so that you may live."
We have been exploring the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Birth/ Regeneration/ Born Again experience these past several days. Fundamentally the scripture asserts that in order for true salvation to occur, it must come from God, bring a change of heart and include faith and repentance. Jesus was shocked when Nicodemas, a teacher of the Old Testament, did not understand what He meant when He told Nicodemas of his need to be Born-Again. As we explore the Old Testament, you will see why Nicodemas should had been more aware of what Jesus was communicating in regards to being born again. In today's blog we want to look further at the Old Testament background of the New Birth and the developments that prepared the way for it.
Circumcision of the Heart - Abraham's testimony of salvation
When Abraham was called by God out of Ur of Chaldees in Genesis 11:27-12:6, he forsook his old life, and by faith trusted in God, who "credited" to Abraham righteousness. (Genesis 15:12; Romans 4:3) Joshua 24:6 tells us that Abraham had been an idolater, and that he turned or in biblical terminology, "repented" from that idolatry. Circumcision was a practice that God ordained for Abraham and his male descendants back in Genesis 17. It was to be the "sign" of the Covenant "promise" of salvation God pledged to Abraham, never being intended to be the means of attaining salvation itself.1 Abraham, like the New Testament believer, was saved by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord alone. In this brief sketch of Abraham's salvation experience, we can see the following:
1. The Call of salvation came from God
2. A change of heart was included, since Abraham forsook his old way of life
3. Faith and repentance were included in Abraham's salvation
Circumcision of the Heart was the proto-type of the New Birth
The best way the Old Testament could describe this change of heart, was to picture it by the physical rite of circumcision given to Abraham - hence the term "circumcision of heart". The "circumcision of the heart" was God's proto-type of salvation for the Old Testament that would operate until the coming of the greater and more effective New Testament "New Birth" work of the Spirit.
The similarities between the Spirit's work in Old and New Testament experiences of salvation
By the days of Moses God's people who believed upon the promises of salvation were saved in the same manner as Abraham - by grace through faith. And just like him, they experienced a level of the Spirit's working in their heart that accompanied their faith and repentence. Deuteronomy is an interesting book, since it spells out most clearly in the earliest part of the Old Testament what exactly the Spirit was doing in salvation.
Deuteronomy 10:16 states - "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer." Just like Jesus talking to Nicodemas in John 3, God through Moses is appealing to the people to "circumcise their hearts". This demand for change, though different in form from the New Birth, is the same in substance - that is, it is a demand being made upon the hearer to change their heart. Deuteronomy 30:6, quoted at the beginning of this blog, indicates that the change being demanded by God must be supplied by God. This "circumcision of heart" is spoken of elsewhere in the Old Testament as describing the Spirit's work in salvation. (Jeremiah 4:4) The change of heart that comes from God includes the faith and repentance of the sinner. In fact, the Apostle Paul uses the basic argument of Deuteronomy 30:6 to highlight the greater reality of the New Birth in Romans 10:8-10, a cornerstone passage used all the time in presentations of the Gospel.
The distinctions of the Spirit's work in Old Testament and New Testament salvation experiences
In the Old Testament, this "circumcision of the heart" consituted a temporary method of God's work in salvation until the Spirit would come and establish the greater and more effective work of the New Birth in Acts 2. It is often helpful to note the similarities and distinctions of the Spirit's work in the Old and New Testament. We have labored to show more of the similarities - since the unity of how salvation works is essential in our understanding of scripture as a whole. However, we must also note the clear distinctions in the Old and New Testament:
1. Out to in versus in to out. The Spirit's work in Old Testament was outside to inside, whereas His work in New Testament was inside to outside. John 14:17 "that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. "
2. Influence versus abiding. The Spirit's work in Old Testament was a coming upon to influence and move a person closer to God, whereas His work in the New Testament involved a coming into and abiding in the person's heart as God. John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
3. Fluctuating work versus continuous work. The Spirit's presence and work could fluctuate in the Old Testament, with Him taking off His restraining power and presence. (Psalm 51) I liken the Spirit's working the the Old Testament saint's life to that of the moon on the tides of the ocean - though a daily work, the work would be stronger at times and than at other moments. In the New Testament work of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to be a permanent resident, providing a continuous resource of power to the child of God as a result of the greater work of the New Birth. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Jesus would compare the Spirit's New Testament work to that of a river of living water, constantly moving and bubbling up from inside the human spirit up into the believer's soul. (John 7:37-38)
4. Looking forward versus Looking Back. The Spirit's work in Old Testament salvation pointed saints of God to a looking foward to the cross. (1 Peter 1:10-12) The Spirit's work in New Testament salvation points us back to the cross and the empty tomb, from whence we draw power for daily Christian living. (Romans 6:4-11; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 2 Peter 1:3-4)
Conclusion
Contrary to many people's perceptions today, Old Testament people were not saved by law keeping nor circumcision. Furthermore, the Old Testament saints did not just by the bare power of their human will "will themselves" to be saved - with the New Testament teaching the Spirit's working as the basis. Both Testaments uniformly teach that God in the Person of the Holy Spirit is the Agent of the change of heart. Though there are some surface level difference and degrees of distinction, Old Testament "circumcision of the heart" and New Testament "New Birth" testifies to the sameness of salvation throughout the Bible: by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord alone. 2
1. Salvation is from God
2. A change of heart comes with true salvation
3. Faith and repentance are included necessarily and are sufficient to receive the call of salvation.
End Notes_________________
1. Whenever a male infant was circumcised, or a male adult for that matter, they were visibly identified with the Covenant community of Abraham, and later on Israel. Circumcision represented a losing of the old way of life and a pledge to covenant loyalty and a changed heart to the New life with God. It was a "sign" that was to signify the work that had been done already in the life of the believer. Unfortunately many of the Jews by Jesus' day had come to equate circumcision with salvation, something of which scripture never taught nor advocated. Paul would deal specifically with such error in His Galatian and Colossian Epistles. Salvation in the Old Testament was like it was in the New: by grace alone, through faith alone in the Lord alone.
2. When we say two items are identical in terms of the ideas behind their working, we use the term "formal distinction". That is, the ideas that "formulate" how they work are the focus. When the appearance or materials of two objects differ, we call that a "material distinction". Hence in the "formal" sense, Old Testament circumcision of the heart and New Testament New Birth are formally the same types of salvation phenomena, since both:
-Begin with God
-Bring a change of heart
-Include faith and repentance
Materially both are distinct, since for example, circumcision of the heart works from the outside in, whereas the New Birth works from the inside out.
We have been exploring the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Birth/ Regeneration/ Born Again experience these past several days. Fundamentally the scripture asserts that in order for true salvation to occur, it must come from God, bring a change of heart and include faith and repentance. Jesus was shocked when Nicodemas, a teacher of the Old Testament, did not understand what He meant when He told Nicodemas of his need to be Born-Again. As we explore the Old Testament, you will see why Nicodemas should had been more aware of what Jesus was communicating in regards to being born again. In today's blog we want to look further at the Old Testament background of the New Birth and the developments that prepared the way for it.
Circumcision of the Heart - Abraham's testimony of salvation
When Abraham was called by God out of Ur of Chaldees in Genesis 11:27-12:6, he forsook his old life, and by faith trusted in God, who "credited" to Abraham righteousness. (Genesis 15:12; Romans 4:3) Joshua 24:6 tells us that Abraham had been an idolater, and that he turned or in biblical terminology, "repented" from that idolatry. Circumcision was a practice that God ordained for Abraham and his male descendants back in Genesis 17. It was to be the "sign" of the Covenant "promise" of salvation God pledged to Abraham, never being intended to be the means of attaining salvation itself.1 Abraham, like the New Testament believer, was saved by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord alone. In this brief sketch of Abraham's salvation experience, we can see the following:
1. The Call of salvation came from God
2. A change of heart was included, since Abraham forsook his old way of life
3. Faith and repentance were included in Abraham's salvation
Circumcision of the Heart was the proto-type of the New Birth
The best way the Old Testament could describe this change of heart, was to picture it by the physical rite of circumcision given to Abraham - hence the term "circumcision of heart". The "circumcision of the heart" was God's proto-type of salvation for the Old Testament that would operate until the coming of the greater and more effective New Testament "New Birth" work of the Spirit.
The similarities between the Spirit's work in Old and New Testament experiences of salvation
By the days of Moses God's people who believed upon the promises of salvation were saved in the same manner as Abraham - by grace through faith. And just like him, they experienced a level of the Spirit's working in their heart that accompanied their faith and repentence. Deuteronomy is an interesting book, since it spells out most clearly in the earliest part of the Old Testament what exactly the Spirit was doing in salvation.
Deuteronomy 10:16 states - "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer." Just like Jesus talking to Nicodemas in John 3, God through Moses is appealing to the people to "circumcise their hearts". This demand for change, though different in form from the New Birth, is the same in substance - that is, it is a demand being made upon the hearer to change their heart. Deuteronomy 30:6, quoted at the beginning of this blog, indicates that the change being demanded by God must be supplied by God. This "circumcision of heart" is spoken of elsewhere in the Old Testament as describing the Spirit's work in salvation. (Jeremiah 4:4) The change of heart that comes from God includes the faith and repentance of the sinner. In fact, the Apostle Paul uses the basic argument of Deuteronomy 30:6 to highlight the greater reality of the New Birth in Romans 10:8-10, a cornerstone passage used all the time in presentations of the Gospel.
The distinctions of the Spirit's work in Old Testament and New Testament salvation experiences
In the Old Testament, this "circumcision of the heart" consituted a temporary method of God's work in salvation until the Spirit would come and establish the greater and more effective work of the New Birth in Acts 2. It is often helpful to note the similarities and distinctions of the Spirit's work in the Old and New Testament. We have labored to show more of the similarities - since the unity of how salvation works is essential in our understanding of scripture as a whole. However, we must also note the clear distinctions in the Old and New Testament:
1. Out to in versus in to out. The Spirit's work in Old Testament was outside to inside, whereas His work in New Testament was inside to outside. John 14:17 "that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. "
2. Influence versus abiding. The Spirit's work in Old Testament was a coming upon to influence and move a person closer to God, whereas His work in the New Testament involved a coming into and abiding in the person's heart as God. John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
3. Fluctuating work versus continuous work. The Spirit's presence and work could fluctuate in the Old Testament, with Him taking off His restraining power and presence. (Psalm 51) I liken the Spirit's working the the Old Testament saint's life to that of the moon on the tides of the ocean - though a daily work, the work would be stronger at times and than at other moments. In the New Testament work of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to be a permanent resident, providing a continuous resource of power to the child of God as a result of the greater work of the New Birth. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Jesus would compare the Spirit's New Testament work to that of a river of living water, constantly moving and bubbling up from inside the human spirit up into the believer's soul. (John 7:37-38)
4. Looking forward versus Looking Back. The Spirit's work in Old Testament salvation pointed saints of God to a looking foward to the cross. (1 Peter 1:10-12) The Spirit's work in New Testament salvation points us back to the cross and the empty tomb, from whence we draw power for daily Christian living. (Romans 6:4-11; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 2 Peter 1:3-4)
Conclusion
Contrary to many people's perceptions today, Old Testament people were not saved by law keeping nor circumcision. Furthermore, the Old Testament saints did not just by the bare power of their human will "will themselves" to be saved - with the New Testament teaching the Spirit's working as the basis. Both Testaments uniformly teach that God in the Person of the Holy Spirit is the Agent of the change of heart. Though there are some surface level difference and degrees of distinction, Old Testament "circumcision of the heart" and New Testament "New Birth" testifies to the sameness of salvation throughout the Bible: by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord alone. 2
1. Salvation is from God
2. A change of heart comes with true salvation
3. Faith and repentance are included necessarily and are sufficient to receive the call of salvation.
End Notes_________________
1. Whenever a male infant was circumcised, or a male adult for that matter, they were visibly identified with the Covenant community of Abraham, and later on Israel. Circumcision represented a losing of the old way of life and a pledge to covenant loyalty and a changed heart to the New life with God. It was a "sign" that was to signify the work that had been done already in the life of the believer. Unfortunately many of the Jews by Jesus' day had come to equate circumcision with salvation, something of which scripture never taught nor advocated. Paul would deal specifically with such error in His Galatian and Colossian Epistles. Salvation in the Old Testament was like it was in the New: by grace alone, through faith alone in the Lord alone.
2. When we say two items are identical in terms of the ideas behind their working, we use the term "formal distinction". That is, the ideas that "formulate" how they work are the focus. When the appearance or materials of two objects differ, we call that a "material distinction". Hence in the "formal" sense, Old Testament circumcision of the heart and New Testament New Birth are formally the same types of salvation phenomena, since both:
-Begin with God
-Bring a change of heart
-Include faith and repentance
Materially both are distinct, since for example, circumcision of the heart works from the outside in, whereas the New Birth works from the inside out.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Jesus teaches on the New Birth/Regeneration P3
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born
again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
We have in our study of the New Birth/Regeneration defined it to be a work that comes from God, comes with change for the heart and includes faith and repentance. In our past two blogs we have looked particularly at Jesus' teaching on the New Birth in John 3, noting the following:
1. It is a demand made John 3:1-8
2. Jesus describes the New Birth John 3:9-13
3. Jesus demonstrates the reality of it John 3:14-19
In today's post we want to finish out Jesus' teaching on the New Birth by observing His teaching about the delights that should flow from the New Birth experience.
Delights flowing from the New Birth John 3:20-21
1. The Born-Again Person Will Progress in the Light.
We read in John 3:21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” The word translated "practices" speaks of a "progression" or "habitual re-occurance". Truly born-again people should be moving in two directions in their Christian walk - onward and upward. I like how the various English translations render this word "practice", since they all capture the point Jesus is making concerning the Born-Again person to the light of Jesus:
-NIV = "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light"
-NLT= "those who do what is right come to the light"
-ESV = "But whoever does what is true comes to the light"
-KJV = "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light"
The reason Born-Again people practice what is right and do the truth is because they were Born-Again.
2. The Born-Again Person aims to please God, and to see others praise God, which pleases God.
To please God does not mean doing more to make God like you (for God's love for His people cannot be added unto nor diminished, since it is infinite love). Rather to please God means to bring pleasure to Him. Thus we ask the question: why does the Born-Again person desire to continue to progress further into the light? Jesus answers in the second half of John 3:21 - "so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” By living out the Born-Again life, others will see the fruit which the Spirit as been working in us following our New Birth by faith. Hebrews 13:14 states - "And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Such good actions by those born-again in salvation lends to others around giving praise to our Father in Heaven. (Matthew 5:16) The sum total of a Born-Again person's Bible reading, prayer time, church attendance, witnessing, moral living and any other activity will be geared in a Christ-ward direction.
Conclusion
In conclusion then this is what we glean from Jesus' teaching of the New Birth in John 3:1-21:
1. He makes the demand for people to be born again. John 3:1-8
2. He describes the New Birth in John 3:9-13
3. He demonstrates the reality of the New Birth in John 3:14-19
4. He shows the delights that should stem from the New Birth in John 3:20-21
We have in our study of the New Birth/Regeneration defined it to be a work that comes from God, comes with change for the heart and includes faith and repentance. In our past two blogs we have looked particularly at Jesus' teaching on the New Birth in John 3, noting the following:
1. It is a demand made John 3:1-8
2. Jesus describes the New Birth John 3:9-13
3. Jesus demonstrates the reality of it John 3:14-19
In today's post we want to finish out Jesus' teaching on the New Birth by observing His teaching about the delights that should flow from the New Birth experience.
Delights flowing from the New Birth John 3:20-21
1. The Born-Again Person Will Progress in the Light.
We read in John 3:21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” The word translated "practices" speaks of a "progression" or "habitual re-occurance". Truly born-again people should be moving in two directions in their Christian walk - onward and upward. I like how the various English translations render this word "practice", since they all capture the point Jesus is making concerning the Born-Again person to the light of Jesus:
-NIV = "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light"
-NLT= "those who do what is right come to the light"
-ESV = "But whoever does what is true comes to the light"
-KJV = "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light"
The reason Born-Again people practice what is right and do the truth is because they were Born-Again.
2. The Born-Again Person aims to please God, and to see others praise God, which pleases God.
To please God does not mean doing more to make God like you (for God's love for His people cannot be added unto nor diminished, since it is infinite love). Rather to please God means to bring pleasure to Him. Thus we ask the question: why does the Born-Again person desire to continue to progress further into the light? Jesus answers in the second half of John 3:21 - "so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” By living out the Born-Again life, others will see the fruit which the Spirit as been working in us following our New Birth by faith. Hebrews 13:14 states - "And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Such good actions by those born-again in salvation lends to others around giving praise to our Father in Heaven. (Matthew 5:16) The sum total of a Born-Again person's Bible reading, prayer time, church attendance, witnessing, moral living and any other activity will be geared in a Christ-ward direction.
Conclusion
In conclusion then this is what we glean from Jesus' teaching of the New Birth in John 3:1-21:
1. He makes the demand for people to be born again. John 3:1-8
2. He describes the New Birth in John 3:9-13
3. He demonstrates the reality of the New Birth in John 3:14-19
4. He shows the delights that should stem from the New Birth in John 3:20-21
Friday, January 4, 2013
Jesus' Teaching on the New Birth/Regeneration P2
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
It cannot be emphasized enough that the New Birth represents the entry way through the gates of salvation. We have learned from previous studies of the New Birth that it comes from God, comes with change for the heart and includes faith and repentance. Just as life naturally begins at conception, New life in Jesus Christ begins at this juncture called "The New Birth". As we began to explore Jesus' conversation with Nicodemas on this most fundamental subject of salvation, we noted two ideas brought out by our Lord:
1. He demands people to be born again. John 3:1-3
2. He describes what it means to be born again. John 3:4-8
Today we continue on with Jesus, observing further how He demonstrates the New Birth.
Jesus demonstrates the New Birth John 3:9-19
In this conversation between Nicodemas and Jesus, Nicodemas raises two questions, the first one being a two part question in John 3:2 - "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?" The question of course is dealing with the need for clarification and description, which Jesus does in John 3:4-8. With the description of the New Birth complete, Nicodemas asks the second question in John 3:9 - "Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” It is in answering this question that Jesus aims to demonstrate the reality of the New Birth to the inquisitive Nicodemas by three types of testimony.
1. Divine Testimony demonstrates the New Birth 3:9-13
Jesus demonstrates the reality of the New Birth by starting with first hand testimony from the Triune God. How do we know Jesus is speaking of Himself in union with the Father and the Spirit? He has already explained to Nicodemas about the role of the Holy Spirit as the Agent of the New Birth. (John 3:3-8) With the Holy Spirit being a member of the Trinity, that leaves two Members. Jesus identifies Himself as being included in this Divine testimony, asserting what is probably one of the clearest declarations of His Deity in John 3:13. The Scripture elsewhere describes the believer being united to Christ at the time of the New Birth/Born Again experience. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) Thus we are left with the person of the Father, Whom scripture ascribes as Being the Father of the New Birth, its Proper Orgin and Author. (James 1:17-18; 1 Peter 1:3,23) God in all Three Persons is the Divine Testifier of the reality of the New Birth.
2. Historical Testimony demonstrates the New Birth 3:14-15
For this Jewish Teacher of the Old Testament Law, no greater example of history could be cited than Moses Himself. In appealing to Numbers 21, wherein Moses was commanded to raise up a brazen serpent to stave off a plague, Jesus is connecting the basis of the miracle of healing to what would be the basis for the miracle of the New Birth. The people of God had grumbled against God, which resulted in a judgment of fiery serpents biting them. By fashioning this serpent, God said all who look to this symbol raised on a pole would be saved from physical death. Christ was showing Nicodemas that a far greater miracle was being referred to by Him - the New Birth. What was its base to be? The cross! So powerful was the cross that not only can it reach forward into time and be the grounds of the New Birth for all who believe, but it could reach back as well. Salvation is a miracle that is grounded in the historical event of the cross - the greatest testimony ever.
3. Living Testimony Demonstrates the New Birth 3:16-19
If Divine and Historical testimony were not enough, Jesus appeals to the third demonstration of the reality of the New Birth - Living Testimony. We all hear John 3:16 all the time, but do we ever stop to realize what it is really saying? The miracle of the New birth is real. Furthermore, faith and repentance are not only necessary, but sufficient means for receiving and experiencing the New Birth. In this particular set of verses, Jesus deals mainly with the faith expression of the sinner. It can also be just as easily included to that repentance is involved, since those who have not believed on the Only Begotten Son are those who love darkness rather than light. (John 3:19) A person who is truly born again believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and in repentance loves the light and hates the darkness.
More tomorrow.......
It cannot be emphasized enough that the New Birth represents the entry way through the gates of salvation. We have learned from previous studies of the New Birth that it comes from God, comes with change for the heart and includes faith and repentance. Just as life naturally begins at conception, New life in Jesus Christ begins at this juncture called "The New Birth". As we began to explore Jesus' conversation with Nicodemas on this most fundamental subject of salvation, we noted two ideas brought out by our Lord:
1. He demands people to be born again. John 3:1-3
2. He describes what it means to be born again. John 3:4-8
Today we continue on with Jesus, observing further how He demonstrates the New Birth.
Jesus demonstrates the New Birth John 3:9-19
In this conversation between Nicodemas and Jesus, Nicodemas raises two questions, the first one being a two part question in John 3:2 - "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?" The question of course is dealing with the need for clarification and description, which Jesus does in John 3:4-8. With the description of the New Birth complete, Nicodemas asks the second question in John 3:9 - "Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” It is in answering this question that Jesus aims to demonstrate the reality of the New Birth to the inquisitive Nicodemas by three types of testimony.
1. Divine Testimony demonstrates the New Birth 3:9-13
Jesus demonstrates the reality of the New Birth by starting with first hand testimony from the Triune God. How do we know Jesus is speaking of Himself in union with the Father and the Spirit? He has already explained to Nicodemas about the role of the Holy Spirit as the Agent of the New Birth. (John 3:3-8) With the Holy Spirit being a member of the Trinity, that leaves two Members. Jesus identifies Himself as being included in this Divine testimony, asserting what is probably one of the clearest declarations of His Deity in John 3:13. The Scripture elsewhere describes the believer being united to Christ at the time of the New Birth/Born Again experience. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) Thus we are left with the person of the Father, Whom scripture ascribes as Being the Father of the New Birth, its Proper Orgin and Author. (James 1:17-18; 1 Peter 1:3,23) God in all Three Persons is the Divine Testifier of the reality of the New Birth.
2. Historical Testimony demonstrates the New Birth 3:14-15
For this Jewish Teacher of the Old Testament Law, no greater example of history could be cited than Moses Himself. In appealing to Numbers 21, wherein Moses was commanded to raise up a brazen serpent to stave off a plague, Jesus is connecting the basis of the miracle of healing to what would be the basis for the miracle of the New Birth. The people of God had grumbled against God, which resulted in a judgment of fiery serpents biting them. By fashioning this serpent, God said all who look to this symbol raised on a pole would be saved from physical death. Christ was showing Nicodemas that a far greater miracle was being referred to by Him - the New Birth. What was its base to be? The cross! So powerful was the cross that not only can it reach forward into time and be the grounds of the New Birth for all who believe, but it could reach back as well. Salvation is a miracle that is grounded in the historical event of the cross - the greatest testimony ever.
3. Living Testimony Demonstrates the New Birth 3:16-19
If Divine and Historical testimony were not enough, Jesus appeals to the third demonstration of the reality of the New Birth - Living Testimony. We all hear John 3:16 all the time, but do we ever stop to realize what it is really saying? The miracle of the New birth is real. Furthermore, faith and repentance are not only necessary, but sufficient means for receiving and experiencing the New Birth. In this particular set of verses, Jesus deals mainly with the faith expression of the sinner. It can also be just as easily included to that repentance is involved, since those who have not believed on the Only Begotten Son are those who love darkness rather than light. (John 3:19) A person who is truly born again believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and in repentance loves the light and hates the darkness.
More tomorrow.......
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Jesus' Teaching on the New Birth/Regeneration - P1
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I
say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Review
Yesterday we looked at James' teaching on the New Birth or what is called "regeneration". We observed the following characteristics of the New Birth:
1. New Birth Comes from God. James 1:17
2. New Birth Brings a Change of heart. James 1:18
3. New Birth Involves Repentance and Faith. James 1:19-21
These characteristics are mentioned in Baptist Faith and Message's definition of regeneration: "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."
In today's blog we are eager to see what Jesus teaches on this fundamental doctrine of biblical salvation in John 3:1-21.
You must be born again or born from above - how James' teaching corresponds with Jesus' teaching about the New Birth
Jesus says in John 3:7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again." That phrase "born again" in the original Greek of John's text could be easily rendered: "you must be born from above". Just as in James' text, Jesus teaching on being Born Again or "The New Birth" is identical: namely it comes from God, brings a change of heart and includes faith and repentance. In John 3:18-21 we see the accompanying change of heart that comes with the New Birth - namely a changed inclination from wanting to practice sin to that of practicing righteousness. Then of course we cannot forget that no biblical understanding of being Born again is complete without the inclusion of faith and repentance, which we readily see in John 3:14-18.
What Jesus specifically teaches about being born again
The wider unity of scripture on any given doctrine is important to consider when coming to any specific text - since our interpretation of specific scriptures must be guided by the general testimony of scripture. With that said, what is Jesus specifically teaching about the New Birth in this text of John? Let the reader take note:
1. The demand of the New Birth John 3:1-3, 7
As much as being born again is a work deriving from God, it is a demand that we issue forth to all men and women. Why? Because as much as it derives from God and brings change to the human heart, it also involves faith and repentance. In John 3:7 Jesus tells Nicodemas that He must be born-again. In our presentations of the Gospel, we make this demand on our hearers. God's Sovereign work of salvation includes the means of reception: namely faith and repentance. Furthermore, He has willed that anyone who is Born Again by grace through faith does so by means of verbal communication of the word. (Romans 10:11-17) Without the New Birth, no one will be able to see, understand, enjoy or abide in the Kingdom of God - that is - in the totality of relationship with Him in His reign and work.
2. The description of the New Birth John 3:4-8
So what is the New Birth or Regeneration? Clearly this truth is something of which Nicodemas, a teacher of the Old Testament should had known. Passages such as Ezekiel 36 and Jeremiah 31-33 all predicted the New Birth work of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemas' issue was not an intellectual gap so much as a moral and spiritual one. The New Birth, in contrast to natural birth, involves God the Holy Spirit uniting with me in my human spirit. (John 3:6; 1 Corinthians 6:17) The miraculous nature of the Born Again work is that it is done by the Spirit of God. As Jesus points out in John 3:8 - “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The employment of the imagery of wind to compare the Spirit's work in regeneration is referring to the cleansing, purifying and driving away of all that obscures the sinner's heart from seeing and hearing Christ calling him to faith and repentance. Again the Baptist Faith and message 2000 is instructive on this point: "It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
More tomorrow...........
Review
Yesterday we looked at James' teaching on the New Birth or what is called "regeneration". We observed the following characteristics of the New Birth:
1. New Birth Comes from God. James 1:17
2. New Birth Brings a Change of heart. James 1:18
3. New Birth Involves Repentance and Faith. James 1:19-21
These characteristics are mentioned in Baptist Faith and Message's definition of regeneration: "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."
In today's blog we are eager to see what Jesus teaches on this fundamental doctrine of biblical salvation in John 3:1-21.
You must be born again or born from above - how James' teaching corresponds with Jesus' teaching about the New Birth
Jesus says in John 3:7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again." That phrase "born again" in the original Greek of John's text could be easily rendered: "you must be born from above". Just as in James' text, Jesus teaching on being Born Again or "The New Birth" is identical: namely it comes from God, brings a change of heart and includes faith and repentance. In John 3:18-21 we see the accompanying change of heart that comes with the New Birth - namely a changed inclination from wanting to practice sin to that of practicing righteousness. Then of course we cannot forget that no biblical understanding of being Born again is complete without the inclusion of faith and repentance, which we readily see in John 3:14-18.
What Jesus specifically teaches about being born again
The wider unity of scripture on any given doctrine is important to consider when coming to any specific text - since our interpretation of specific scriptures must be guided by the general testimony of scripture. With that said, what is Jesus specifically teaching about the New Birth in this text of John? Let the reader take note:
1. The demand of the New Birth John 3:1-3, 7
As much as being born again is a work deriving from God, it is a demand that we issue forth to all men and women. Why? Because as much as it derives from God and brings change to the human heart, it also involves faith and repentance. In John 3:7 Jesus tells Nicodemas that He must be born-again. In our presentations of the Gospel, we make this demand on our hearers. God's Sovereign work of salvation includes the means of reception: namely faith and repentance. Furthermore, He has willed that anyone who is Born Again by grace through faith does so by means of verbal communication of the word. (Romans 10:11-17) Without the New Birth, no one will be able to see, understand, enjoy or abide in the Kingdom of God - that is - in the totality of relationship with Him in His reign and work.
2. The description of the New Birth John 3:4-8
So what is the New Birth or Regeneration? Clearly this truth is something of which Nicodemas, a teacher of the Old Testament should had known. Passages such as Ezekiel 36 and Jeremiah 31-33 all predicted the New Birth work of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemas' issue was not an intellectual gap so much as a moral and spiritual one. The New Birth, in contrast to natural birth, involves God the Holy Spirit uniting with me in my human spirit. (John 3:6; 1 Corinthians 6:17) The miraculous nature of the Born Again work is that it is done by the Spirit of God. As Jesus points out in John 3:8 - “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The employment of the imagery of wind to compare the Spirit's work in regeneration is referring to the cleansing, purifying and driving away of all that obscures the sinner's heart from seeing and hearing Christ calling him to faith and repentance. Again the Baptist Faith and message 2000 is instructive on this point: "It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
More tomorrow...........
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Defining the New Birth
James 1:17-18 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is
from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the
exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would
be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
Defining The New Birth in Christian Salvation
I figured since we are entering into a new year, it is only fitting that we explore a fundamental truth of Christian salvation that has the word "new" in it. The above text deals with the beginning of one's salvation - what the Bible calls "The New Birth" or "Regeneration". The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (the doctrinal statement of the Southern Baptist Convention) defines the "New Birth" accordingly: "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."
The source, the effects and the activities involved in the New Birth
The New Testament speaks of the beginning of Christian salvation as being that of a "New Birth". Jesus for example in John 3:1-8 discusses with Nicodemas what it means to be "born-again". Peter too talks about being "begotten" or "born again" by God in 1 Peter 1:3 and 23. This language of "birthing" and "regeneration" to describe saving faith is used in Titus 3:5 - "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."
James 1:17-21 is the text I want us to specifically focus upon in understanding the New Birth, since James was the first New Testament Book. As you go down through James' treatment, you discover the following about the New Birth or as it is sometimes termed "regeneration":
1. The New Birth Comes from God. James 1:17
This is clearly the origin of the New Birth. This tells us that salvation by its very nature is a genuine miracle. We could call this first thought the "source" of regeneration or the New Birth.
2. The New Birth Brings a change of heart. James 1:18
The New Birth, being a work of God, brings with it the grace that accompanies salvation. As we will see in later blogs, whenever you and I have been born again - there must needs had been a change of heart. We could term this the "effects" of the New Birth or regeneration.
3. The New Birth Involves faith and repentance. James 1:19-21
Any definition of the New Birth must include "faith and repentance". Apart from faith and repentance, the New Birth simply will not occur. James speaks about both repentance (James 1:19-21a) and faith (1:21b) in this authoritative definition of "The New Birth". We could call this last point the "activities involved" in the New Birth.
I would encourage the reader to study over James 1:17-21 and the other texts mentioned in today's blog to gain a better understanding of this essential truth of Christian salvation - The New Birth. More tomorrow..........
Defining The New Birth in Christian Salvation
I figured since we are entering into a new year, it is only fitting that we explore a fundamental truth of Christian salvation that has the word "new" in it. The above text deals with the beginning of one's salvation - what the Bible calls "The New Birth" or "Regeneration". The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (the doctrinal statement of the Southern Baptist Convention) defines the "New Birth" accordingly: "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."
The source, the effects and the activities involved in the New Birth
The New Testament speaks of the beginning of Christian salvation as being that of a "New Birth". Jesus for example in John 3:1-8 discusses with Nicodemas what it means to be "born-again". Peter too talks about being "begotten" or "born again" by God in 1 Peter 1:3 and 23. This language of "birthing" and "regeneration" to describe saving faith is used in Titus 3:5 - "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."
James 1:17-21 is the text I want us to specifically focus upon in understanding the New Birth, since James was the first New Testament Book. As you go down through James' treatment, you discover the following about the New Birth or as it is sometimes termed "regeneration":
1. The New Birth Comes from God. James 1:17
This is clearly the origin of the New Birth. This tells us that salvation by its very nature is a genuine miracle. We could call this first thought the "source" of regeneration or the New Birth.
2. The New Birth Brings a change of heart. James 1:18
The New Birth, being a work of God, brings with it the grace that accompanies salvation. As we will see in later blogs, whenever you and I have been born again - there must needs had been a change of heart. We could term this the "effects" of the New Birth or regeneration.
3. The New Birth Involves faith and repentance. James 1:19-21
Any definition of the New Birth must include "faith and repentance". Apart from faith and repentance, the New Birth simply will not occur. James speaks about both repentance (James 1:19-21a) and faith (1:21b) in this authoritative definition of "The New Birth". We could call this last point the "activities involved" in the New Birth.
I would encourage the reader to study over James 1:17-21 and the other texts mentioned in today's blog to gain a better understanding of this essential truth of Christian salvation - The New Birth. More tomorrow..........
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Gaining Spiritual Ground in 2013: Emphasize Obedience
Hebrews 4:11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest,
so that no one will fall, through following the same example of
disobedience.
Numbers 36:10 Just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did
For the past several days the aim has been to offer a map for gaining spiritual ground for the Lord in the upcoming New Year. We've so far demonstrated that emphasizing prayer and regular time in the scriptures will yield advancement in the Christian life. The Old Testament gives us the concrete language we need to understand the spiritual realities of the Christian life. For example, New Testament passages such as Ephesians 1:3; Romans 8:14-16 and Galatians 4:1-6 all speak of the Christian being an "heir of God and co-heir with Christ". These truths become crystal clear when we look back to the Old Testament people of God striving their way to possess the physical land of their inheritance.
As we once again consider how we can gain spiritual ground for Jesus Christ in 2013, we want to look at a third emphasis: namely emphasizing obedience.
Faith the root, obedience the fruit of true advancement for God
As we look at Numbers 36, we see the daughter of Zelophehad obediently following the word of God spoken to them. Numbers 36:10 plainly says: "Just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did." These daughters were not just hearers of the word - but doers. When we look at how the Christian walk practically moves forward, it requires prayer, the scriptures and obedience. Obedience is how you and I carry out what God shows us in prayer and what He tells us in His Word.
When we come to the New Testament, we see abundant evidence of obedience being the premier sign of the presence of saving faith in the Christian life:
1. Matthew 7:17-20 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.
2. Luke 8:21 - "But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
3. James 1:23 "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror"
As we see in Hebrews 4:11-16, the whole emphasis is upon gaining spiritual ground. Hebrews 4:11 tells us "to be all the more diligent" - meaning that the way we know that we have entered into the rest of God is by the obedience that issues forth from saving faith. Hebrews 4:10 speaks of us as Christians "having entered the rest of God" - i.e saving faith. In verse 11 we see the need to "strive to enter into God's rest" - i.e sanctifying faith. Obedience to the known will of God is the only way I can practically measure how much I'm operating by faith in my heart.
By regular prayer and reading of the scripture, the obedience in these areas will become more of a matter of delight rather than duty. True gaining of spiritual ground is indicated by what began has a "have to do" turning into an "I want to do". In this upcoming New year, may you and I be a people who gain spiritual ground in the New Year by emphasizing prayer, the scriptures and obedience.
Numbers 36:10 Just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did
For the past several days the aim has been to offer a map for gaining spiritual ground for the Lord in the upcoming New Year. We've so far demonstrated that emphasizing prayer and regular time in the scriptures will yield advancement in the Christian life. The Old Testament gives us the concrete language we need to understand the spiritual realities of the Christian life. For example, New Testament passages such as Ephesians 1:3; Romans 8:14-16 and Galatians 4:1-6 all speak of the Christian being an "heir of God and co-heir with Christ". These truths become crystal clear when we look back to the Old Testament people of God striving their way to possess the physical land of their inheritance.
As we once again consider how we can gain spiritual ground for Jesus Christ in 2013, we want to look at a third emphasis: namely emphasizing obedience.
Faith the root, obedience the fruit of true advancement for God
As we look at Numbers 36, we see the daughter of Zelophehad obediently following the word of God spoken to them. Numbers 36:10 plainly says: "Just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did." These daughters were not just hearers of the word - but doers. When we look at how the Christian walk practically moves forward, it requires prayer, the scriptures and obedience. Obedience is how you and I carry out what God shows us in prayer and what He tells us in His Word.
When we come to the New Testament, we see abundant evidence of obedience being the premier sign of the presence of saving faith in the Christian life:
1. Matthew 7:17-20 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.
2. Luke 8:21 - "But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
3. James 1:23 "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror"
As we see in Hebrews 4:11-16, the whole emphasis is upon gaining spiritual ground. Hebrews 4:11 tells us "to be all the more diligent" - meaning that the way we know that we have entered into the rest of God is by the obedience that issues forth from saving faith. Hebrews 4:10 speaks of us as Christians "having entered the rest of God" - i.e saving faith. In verse 11 we see the need to "strive to enter into God's rest" - i.e sanctifying faith. Obedience to the known will of God is the only way I can practically measure how much I'm operating by faith in my heart.
By regular prayer and reading of the scripture, the obedience in these areas will become more of a matter of delight rather than duty. True gaining of spiritual ground is indicated by what began has a "have to do" turning into an "I want to do". In this upcoming New year, may you and I be a people who gain spiritual ground in the New Year by emphasizing prayer, the scriptures and obedience.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Gaining Spiritual Ground in 2013: Emphasize the Bible
Hebrews 4:11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
Numbers 36:2 "and they said, “The LORD commanded my lord to give the land by lot to the sons of Israel as an inheritance, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters."
Yesterday we talked about gaining spiritual ground for the New Year. We focused upon emphasizing prayer - establishing the truth from both Numbers 36 and Hebrews 4 that no advance for God can be made without prayer. Today we want to consider another emphasis: namely the scriptures. Just as no spiritual ground can be gained for God apart from prayer, the same must be said for the believer's relationship to the scriptures.
How the Old Testament saints appealed to God's Word in laying claim to God's inheritance
As we look back to Numbers 36 once again, we see these elders of the Tribe of Manesseh appealing to Moses and the Elders on behalf of the daughters of Zelophehad. The daughters already had grounds to lay claim to their deceased father's estate, as articulated in Numbers 27. The appeal made on behalf of these daughters in Numbers 36:2 refers back to God's instructions in Numbers 27. Knowing what God had said was the ground they stood upon as they advanced their case to Moses.
The New Testament Christian must have a close association with God's word if they are to gain ground for God
Hebrews 4:11 reminds the Christian: "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. " This exhortation to gain ground for God is not an option - but a command. In order to gain ground for God in the New Year, you and I must do it with the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 makes one of grandest statements about the scriptures: "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." As we include verse 13, we can note the specific reasons as to why emphasis upon the scripture is so crucial to gaining ground for God in the upcoming New Year:
1. The Bible is a Living Book. (Hebrews 4:12)
Apart from scripture, no spiritual life is possible, since by it God initiates saving faith (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) and sustains the believer's post-conversion Christian walk. (Colossians 3:16)
2. The Bible is an Active Book. (Hebrews 4:12)
The Bible not only brings life, it enables you to be active in your Christian walk. How can we know how to live for God, or what God's will is, apart from the scripture? God uses the scriptures to stir us up to active faith.
3. The Bible is a discerning book. (Hebrews 4:12)
The writer here uses the language of the Old Testament sacrifices to convey his point of the discerning character of the scriptures. Just as the Old Testament priest would ritually cut the sacrifices to make offerings to the Lord, the scripture is God's sword that prepares the Christian for spiritual service to the Lord. (Romans 12:1-2) Only through the scriptures can my spirit (where the Holy Spirit dwells) have priority over my soul (where my fleshly desires are located). When the scripture is doing its work, my soul comes more in line with my spirit. When I am not exposed as often to God's Word, my soulish realm will rule my spirit. I find that only through constant exposure to God's Word can I be a more discerning Christian. (Hebrews 5:14)
4. The Bible is a wide-opening book. (Hebrews 4:13)
Gaining ground for God means I know what He desires and that I want to act out what He says. Hebrews 4:13 states - "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." When you and I excercise ourselves in the scriptures - things that we found to be difficult to grasp suddenly become open to us. All the time people are wanting to know God's will for their lives. Scripture alone is the sufficient basis for discovering His Perfect and pleasing will. (Romans 12:1-2)
If we were to treat our Bibles like our wallets, our cell phones and our personal time, we would have an explosion of personal revival. People all the time accidently leave their Bibles at church for instance. Yet I have rarely if ever seen a cell phone left behind at church. Whenever I have misplaced my wallet, I can recall turning the house upside-down looking for it. How often do we set aside calendars and rearrange our family budgets for a few hours of personal recreational time?
Cell phones, wallets and personal time are very important components of our twenty-first century life - yet think of how we emphasize those things in comparison to our time in the scriptures? To make the necessary advancement in our spiritual walk with the Lord - we need to emphasize the reading, studying and interaction with the scriptures.
Numbers 36:2 "and they said, “The LORD commanded my lord to give the land by lot to the sons of Israel as an inheritance, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters."
Yesterday we talked about gaining spiritual ground for the New Year. We focused upon emphasizing prayer - establishing the truth from both Numbers 36 and Hebrews 4 that no advance for God can be made without prayer. Today we want to consider another emphasis: namely the scriptures. Just as no spiritual ground can be gained for God apart from prayer, the same must be said for the believer's relationship to the scriptures.
How the Old Testament saints appealed to God's Word in laying claim to God's inheritance
As we look back to Numbers 36 once again, we see these elders of the Tribe of Manesseh appealing to Moses and the Elders on behalf of the daughters of Zelophehad. The daughters already had grounds to lay claim to their deceased father's estate, as articulated in Numbers 27. The appeal made on behalf of these daughters in Numbers 36:2 refers back to God's instructions in Numbers 27. Knowing what God had said was the ground they stood upon as they advanced their case to Moses.
The New Testament Christian must have a close association with God's word if they are to gain ground for God
Hebrews 4:11 reminds the Christian: "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. " This exhortation to gain ground for God is not an option - but a command. In order to gain ground for God in the New Year, you and I must do it with the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 makes one of grandest statements about the scriptures: "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." As we include verse 13, we can note the specific reasons as to why emphasis upon the scripture is so crucial to gaining ground for God in the upcoming New Year:
1. The Bible is a Living Book. (Hebrews 4:12)
Apart from scripture, no spiritual life is possible, since by it God initiates saving faith (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) and sustains the believer's post-conversion Christian walk. (Colossians 3:16)
2. The Bible is an Active Book. (Hebrews 4:12)
The Bible not only brings life, it enables you to be active in your Christian walk. How can we know how to live for God, or what God's will is, apart from the scripture? God uses the scriptures to stir us up to active faith.
3. The Bible is a discerning book. (Hebrews 4:12)
The writer here uses the language of the Old Testament sacrifices to convey his point of the discerning character of the scriptures. Just as the Old Testament priest would ritually cut the sacrifices to make offerings to the Lord, the scripture is God's sword that prepares the Christian for spiritual service to the Lord. (Romans 12:1-2) Only through the scriptures can my spirit (where the Holy Spirit dwells) have priority over my soul (where my fleshly desires are located). When the scripture is doing its work, my soul comes more in line with my spirit. When I am not exposed as often to God's Word, my soulish realm will rule my spirit. I find that only through constant exposure to God's Word can I be a more discerning Christian. (Hebrews 5:14)
4. The Bible is a wide-opening book. (Hebrews 4:13)
Gaining ground for God means I know what He desires and that I want to act out what He says. Hebrews 4:13 states - "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." When you and I excercise ourselves in the scriptures - things that we found to be difficult to grasp suddenly become open to us. All the time people are wanting to know God's will for their lives. Scripture alone is the sufficient basis for discovering His Perfect and pleasing will. (Romans 12:1-2)
If we were to treat our Bibles like our wallets, our cell phones and our personal time, we would have an explosion of personal revival. People all the time accidently leave their Bibles at church for instance. Yet I have rarely if ever seen a cell phone left behind at church. Whenever I have misplaced my wallet, I can recall turning the house upside-down looking for it. How often do we set aside calendars and rearrange our family budgets for a few hours of personal recreational time?
Cell phones, wallets and personal time are very important components of our twenty-first century life - yet think of how we emphasize those things in comparison to our time in the scriptures? To make the necessary advancement in our spiritual walk with the Lord - we need to emphasize the reading, studying and interaction with the scriptures.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Gaining Spiritual Ground in 2013: Emphasize Prayer
Hebrews 4:11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest,
so that no one will fall, through following the same example of
disobedience.
Numbers 36:1 "And the heads of the fathers’ households of the family of the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the heads of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel"
The Christian life or participation in their spiritual inheritance is pictured by the land of Israel
Hebrews 4:11-16 represents one of the sections in the Book of Hebrews that exhorts readers to strive towards knowing and following Jesus Christ. The word for "diligent" in Hebrews 4:11 refers to "hasten, be zealous, eager, make every effort". So the question is: what is it that the author is wanting his readers and us to be diligent about? Answer: to enter into the "rest" of God. This statement fits into the larger section of Hebrews 3:7-4:16, wherein the comprison is made between the Old Testament Israelites and their relationship to the land of Canaan to New Testament Christians and their growth in the Christian life. The Old Testament promises of land for Israel are concrete illustrations used by the Bible to illustrate the Christian's inheritance and Christian life in Christ.
With that basic understanding established, we can legitimately draw the conclusion that excercising the "diligence to enter into that rest" equals gaining spiritual ground.
Gleaning principles for gaining ground in the Old Testament: Emphasize Prayer
As we pointed out, the Jews and the promised land in the Old Testament picture for us the Christian and their Christian walk in the New. The idea of inheritance is mentioned nearly 20 times in Numbers 36, making it the perfect place to understand this concept of gaining ground. The heads of a tribe in Israel was appealing to Moses on behalf of five daughters who were attempting to obtain their late father's inheritance. The father's name was Zelophehad, and being that he had no sons, the question of course would be whether or not his daughters could claim the right to inherit his possessions. Back in Numbers 27 these same people had appealed to God and Moses, with the Lord telling to Moses to grant their request. It was now a matter of them laying claim to what was rightfully theirs.
So what was it that these people of God did to gain their share in God's inheritiance promised to them in the promised land? Notice what they emphasized: prayer.
Numbers 36:1b states - "came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the heads of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel." Where did these people draw near to speak to the Prophet Moses about this right of inheritance? According to Exodus 33:7 "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp." Over time this "tent of meeting" came to be associated with the tabernacle. (Leviticus 1:1; Numbers 3:25). They drew near to the place where God's people go to speak to God and to hear God by way of the priest. The priesthood in turn would perform sacrifices and go into the tabernacle to represent them in prayer.
Gaining spiritual ground in the New Testament entails emphasizing prayer
In Hebrews 4:11 we read of the necessity for the Christian to "strive" or "be all the more diligent" to enter into God's rest. That "rest" is the spiritual counterpart to the "land" and physical inheritance we see in Numbers. What is it that we are to do today as Christians in gaining ground for God? One of things spoken of in Hebrews 4:11-16 is the need to emphasize prayer.
The writer employs the language of the tabernacle and priesthood. Hebrews 4:14 and 16 - 14 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.... 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Specific areas of gain that can occur when we emphasize prayer
Just as the people of God drew close to the entrance of the "place of prayer", the "tent of meeting", so are we as New Testament believers. No gaining of spiritual ground is possible apart from prayer. Take note of significant New Testament passages that emphasize the place of prayer in Christian growth:
1. Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
2. Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
3. 1 Timothy 2:1 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."
4. Jude 20 "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit."
As we gain ground for God in 2013 by way of prayer, we can expect to have clearer thinking (Ephesians 6:18), more peace of mind (Philippians 4:6-7), greater ability to change our communities (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and be stronger personally in our pursuit of God (Jude 20).
Numbers 36:1 "And the heads of the fathers’ households of the family of the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the heads of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel"
The Christian life or participation in their spiritual inheritance is pictured by the land of Israel
Hebrews 4:11-16 represents one of the sections in the Book of Hebrews that exhorts readers to strive towards knowing and following Jesus Christ. The word for "diligent" in Hebrews 4:11 refers to "hasten, be zealous, eager, make every effort". So the question is: what is it that the author is wanting his readers and us to be diligent about? Answer: to enter into the "rest" of God. This statement fits into the larger section of Hebrews 3:7-4:16, wherein the comprison is made between the Old Testament Israelites and their relationship to the land of Canaan to New Testament Christians and their growth in the Christian life. The Old Testament promises of land for Israel are concrete illustrations used by the Bible to illustrate the Christian's inheritance and Christian life in Christ.
With that basic understanding established, we can legitimately draw the conclusion that excercising the "diligence to enter into that rest" equals gaining spiritual ground.
Gleaning principles for gaining ground in the Old Testament: Emphasize Prayer
As we pointed out, the Jews and the promised land in the Old Testament picture for us the Christian and their Christian walk in the New. The idea of inheritance is mentioned nearly 20 times in Numbers 36, making it the perfect place to understand this concept of gaining ground. The heads of a tribe in Israel was appealing to Moses on behalf of five daughters who were attempting to obtain their late father's inheritance. The father's name was Zelophehad, and being that he had no sons, the question of course would be whether or not his daughters could claim the right to inherit his possessions. Back in Numbers 27 these same people had appealed to God and Moses, with the Lord telling to Moses to grant their request. It was now a matter of them laying claim to what was rightfully theirs.
So what was it that these people of God did to gain their share in God's inheritiance promised to them in the promised land? Notice what they emphasized: prayer.
Numbers 36:1b states - "came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the heads of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel." Where did these people draw near to speak to the Prophet Moses about this right of inheritance? According to Exodus 33:7 "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp." Over time this "tent of meeting" came to be associated with the tabernacle. (Leviticus 1:1; Numbers 3:25). They drew near to the place where God's people go to speak to God and to hear God by way of the priest. The priesthood in turn would perform sacrifices and go into the tabernacle to represent them in prayer.
Gaining spiritual ground in the New Testament entails emphasizing prayer
In Hebrews 4:11 we read of the necessity for the Christian to "strive" or "be all the more diligent" to enter into God's rest. That "rest" is the spiritual counterpart to the "land" and physical inheritance we see in Numbers. What is it that we are to do today as Christians in gaining ground for God? One of things spoken of in Hebrews 4:11-16 is the need to emphasize prayer.
The writer employs the language of the tabernacle and priesthood. Hebrews 4:14 and 16 - 14 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.... 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Specific areas of gain that can occur when we emphasize prayer
Just as the people of God drew close to the entrance of the "place of prayer", the "tent of meeting", so are we as New Testament believers. No gaining of spiritual ground is possible apart from prayer. Take note of significant New Testament passages that emphasize the place of prayer in Christian growth:
1. Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
2. Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
3. 1 Timothy 2:1 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."
4. Jude 20 "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit."
As we gain ground for God in 2013 by way of prayer, we can expect to have clearer thinking (Ephesians 6:18), more peace of mind (Philippians 4:6-7), greater ability to change our communities (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and be stronger personally in our pursuit of God (Jude 20).
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